Cost-effective programs for the noncommunicable diseases prevention. Part 2: level of community, family and medical specialist

Abstract

The problem of the widespread prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors (RF) has not lost its relevance already for many years. In 2017, World Health Organization (WHO) published cost-effective solutions and other recommended interventions for the prevention and control of NCDs. For each behavioral RF and category of disease, measures are listed with an assessment of their cost-effectiveness. In this review, the measures presented by WHO are analyzed in terms of their application at three out of the six levels identified by the authors: community, family, medical specialist. Human health is known to be only 1015 % dependent on medical support. However, medical specialists are completely responsible for some types of prevention, as well as the management of NCDs. At the same time, only a small number of novel studies on the prevention and management of NCDs are devoted to activities carried out at the level of communities or families. To date, it is necessary to take these levels into account when developing comprehensive preventive measures of the “life-long cycle”. The review provides examples of preventive programs aimed at combating unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity, consumption of alcohol and salt. It also examines the relationship of infectious and non-communicable diseases by the example of human papillomavirus infection. Possible criteria that increase the effectiveness of modern preventive measures have been identified.